Can tourists enter Huai Kha Khaeng?

Public access to Huai Kha Khaeng is restricted to protect wildlife. There is a visitor centre and short nature trails near the headquarters, but the core sanctuary is closed to general tourism. Permits are required for deeper visits.

What is Wat Tha Sung's Crystal Sanctuary?

Wat Tha Sung's Vihara Kaew, or 'Crystal Sanctuary', is a large hall whose interior walls, ceiling, and pillars are entirely covered in mirrored glass, creating a dazzling reflective space around a central Buddha image.

Is Uthai Thani town worth a stay?

Yes — the riverside town is one of central Thailand's quietest, with raft-house guesthouses, an evening walking street on weekends, and easy bike rides through surrounding rice fields.

Uthai Thani Province Guide — Huai Kha Khaeng UNESCO, Wat Tha Sung & Sakae Krang River

About Uthai Thani Province

Uthai Thani is a small, riverside province on the western edge of the central plains, where the lowlands rise into the forested ranges along the Myanmar border. Its main draw is Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary — part of the UNESCO-listed Western Forest Complex and one of mainland Southeast Asia's most important strongholds for tigers and elephants. The town itself is quiet, set along the Sakae Krang River with raft-house communities and an unusually serene atmosphere for central Thailand.

Key facts

Population: 325,868 (2020)
Area: 6,730 km²
Density: 48 / km²
Districts: 8
Capital: Uthai Thani
ISO code: TH-61

All 8 districts

Ban Rai · Huai Khot · Lan Sak · Mueang Uthai Thani · Nong Chang · Nong Khayang · Sawang Arom · Thap Than

Top Highlights

Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary
UNESCO World Heritage site, tiger and elephant habitat
Wat Tha Sung
a temple famous for its all-mirrored Crystal Sanctuary hall
Sakae Krang River raft-house community in Mueang Uthai Thani
Khao Sakae Krang
a hilltop viewpoint overlooking the town and river

Getting There

Uthai Thani is about 3.5 hours by car from Bangkok via Highway 32. Buses run from Mo Chit. There is no convenient airport or passenger railway; access to Huai Kha Khaeng requires a private vehicle from town.

Inside Uthai Thani

Districts (8)

Ban Rai ·Huai Khot ·Lan Sak ·Mueang Uthai Thani ·Nong Chang ·Nong Khayang ·Sawang Arom ·Thap Than

Mapped in Uthai Thani

51 places of interest recorded in OpenStreetMap. Coverage is contributed by volunteers and varies by area, so treat these as a guide to what is mapped rather than a complete inventory.

26Temples
8Attractions
6Waterfalls
3Viewpoints
3Museums
3Historic sites
2Markets

Named examples

Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources

Facts on this page last checked 1 August 2026.

1.Q244649 — population, area, districts, coordinates — Wikidata (Wikidata), retrieved 1 August 2026
2.Background reading — Wikipedia (Wikipedia), retrieved 1 August 2026Linked for context; no text is reproduced from it.
3.Official provincial website — Provincial administration (Official source), retrieved 1 August 2026

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